Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"
简直 (jiǎnzhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and can be used to modify adjectives or verbs, adding a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.
Contents
Used as "simply"
Basic structure
Subj. + 简直 + Predicate
Examples
- 我 今天 简直 太 顺利 了 ！
- 他 简直 是 个 魔鬼 ！He is simply a monster!
- 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 ！His singing is simply awful!
- 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 ！Your boyfriend is simply so handsome!
- 我 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 ！I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
- 你 变化 真 大，我 简直 认 不 出来 你 了 ！
- 妈妈 找 不到 孩子 了，她 简直 要 疯 了。
- 我 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 ！I just don't know how I should teach such kinds of students.
- 妈妈 做的 蛋糕 好吃 极了， 简直 比 商店 卖的 蛋糕 还 好吃！
- 我 听到 这个 消息， 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。
However, although it is possible in English to say something is "simply beautiful," in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective. Check out the following examples:
- 她 简直 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 很 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 太 漂亮 了 ！She is simply too beautiful!
- 她 简直 漂亮 极 了 !She is just so beautiful!
Used as "basically"
Structure
Subj. + 简直 + 是(在) + Predicate
Examples
- 他 简直 是 骗 人 。He's just lying to you.
- 他们 简直 就是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。They are basically stealing our creativity.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 115) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 134-6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 225) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 67) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
